Are Newcastle United Celtic's chief rival in race for Chelsea's Charly Musonda?

Who knows where Charly Musonda stands right now at Chelsea? Speculation has been rife over the last few weeks that the Belgian winger will leave Stamford Bridge on loan but, with a month until the January window swings open, we are still not 100 per cent sure whether Musonda is available.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte clearly rates him highly, handing the 21-year-old his first-team debut this season and stating that he will play a big part in the Premier League champions’ future.

But after Musonda aimed a less-than-subtle rant at his current employers on Instagram, criticising them for his lack of opportunities, The Standard claimed that Chelsea will respond by sending him out on loan – less as a punishment and more to give him a chance to prove himself.

The question is, where will one of the most skilful talents in European football by plying his trade by the time January comes to a close?

Celtic attempted to lure Musonda to Scotland in the summer and Brendan Rodgers was even willing to OK a £5 million deal. And The Scotsman claimed that The Bhoys are continuing to monitor the situation ahead of the January window.

With Benitez admitting that he would be open to loan deals in the New Year, he could turn his attention back to Musonda to aid a Newcastle side lacking anyone with the Belgian’s dextrous dribbling, vision and ability to produce something out of nothing.

Danny Owen

Daniel is a Journalist graduate from Leeds Trinity University and is generally obsessed with everything football related. Daniel watches everything from Augsburg in the Bundesliga to Vitesse in the Eredivisie with as much La Liga as possible thrown in for good measure.